Home for the Holidays

Published on December 10, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release


Houston continues its busy month of December after going 1-2 the first week. The Aeros have 10 home games this month, nine at Compaq Center and one this past Sunday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. The team hits the road for only three games: in Utah Saturday and then in San Antonio on Dec. 26, and in Milwaukee on Dec. 27.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Houston started of the week with a win then lost two close contests. DECEMBER 4: The Aeros showed the come-from-behind grit that helped them to one of the top records in the league. After the Griffins took a 2-0 lead, Mark Cullen, Curtis Murphy and Travis Roche scored for Houston's 3-2 win. DECEMBER 6: Houston fell short in their comeback attempt and lost to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 6-5 on Friday. The Penguins scored three goals in the first period and then the first two in the second. With less than a minute remaining in the second, C Dan Cavanaugh put the Aeros on the board. In the third, RW Jeff Hoggan scored just 39 seconds in.

Unfortunately, Wilkes-Barre scored their sixth goal of the night then, and it held up as the game winner. The Aeros put a flurry on in the third, throwing 22 shots at G Rob Tallas, scoring four times. In addition to Hoggan's goal, Cavanaugh, Rickard Wallin and David Cullen scored for Houston. G Derek Gustafson took the loss for Houston as he came in for Dieter Kochan and gave up the final two goals, finishing 10 of 12. DECEMBER 8: The Aeros hosted the Milwaukee Admirals at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN, home of the Minnesota Wild. Milwaukee collected first period goals by Cameron Mann and Greg Classen. Houston's Rickard Wallin scored midway through the second, but Houston couldn't get the equalizer past Chris Madden despite outshooting Milwaukee 29-18 for the game.

BLUE LINE, RED LIGHT: Defensemen Curtis Murphy and Travis Roche give the Aeros two offensive threats from the blue line. Murphy has been on fire recently with points in six of his last eight games (6-2-8). The fifth-year pro leads the team in goals with 11 (tied with Jean-Guy Trudel), and ranks third in points (20). "Murph" leads AHL defensemen in goals and ranks fourth in points. Roche has 2-5-7 in his last seven games and has climbed to seventh on the Aeros with 5-8-13. The second-year pro is tied for the team lead with four power play goals. He missed two games earlier this season while playing for the Canadian National Team in the Deutschland Cup. He collected an assist in three games.

FAB FRESHMEN: Houston has several rookies on its roster this year. C Mark Cullen leads the way in goals and points with 6-4-10 in 17 games. D Erik Reitz is right behind with 4-5-9 in 20 games. Two of Reitz' goals have been overtime game-winners. C Marc Cavosie has played in 13 games and has 1-3-4. His goal also was a game-winner. RW Jeff Hoggan has collected 2-2-4 in 19 games while D Zbynek Michalek has 1-1-2 in 18 games and D Chris Dyment has one goal in 14 games.

STARK COMPARISON: Twenty-four games into the season, Houston has had two distinct styles. The team started with a club record eight game-winning streak. After losing their first game of the year, the Aeros rebounded and went undefeated in the next five. However, in the past 10 games, the team is 4-6. The statistics reflect the trend also. Through the first 14 games, Houston scored 54 goals and allowed 32 (3.9 goals per game average vs. 2.3). In the past 10, the Aeros have scored 28 while allowing 36 (2.8 to 3.6). Lack of production on the power play attributes to the scoring decline. The power play converted 20 of 108 chances during the first 14 games (18.5%). In the last 10, it's been a powerless 7 of 62 (11.3%).

BITS & PIECES: Houston ranks sixth in the league in penalty minutes per game at 23.7. They have outscored their opponents 60-43 in the final two periods this year. The Aeros rank fifth in goals for average at 3.42 and are 11th in goals against at 2.83. Houston is averaging 33.3 shots per game, fourth highest in the league while allowing only 27.8 against, third best. Houston is 7-0 when leading after the first period and 10-1-1 when leading after two periods.

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!: It's Happy Hour at the Aeros on Thursday. For just $20, fans can get a lower bowl seat and $10 in Aramark money which can be used for drinks or food. On Friday the 13th, any fan with the first, middle or last name of "Jason" gets into the game free. Simply show a picture ID at Compaq Center box office.

TRANSACTIONS: No recent transactions.

NEWS AND NOTES:

* LW Jean-Guy Trudel continues to lead the team in goals (tied with Murphy) and points with 11-14-25, ranks 17th (tied) in AHL scoring;

* C Cory Larose is second in points and first in assists on the Aeros with 4-17-21;

* D Curtis Murphy leads all AHL defensemen with 11 goals and is fourth in scoring with 11-9-20. His 20 points ranks third on the Aeros;

* RW Kyle Wanvig is tied for third on team with 8 goals and is tied for first with four power play goals;

* C Rickard Wallin ranks third on team in assists (13), third in points (20) and leads in plus/minus (+13);

* LW Hnat Domenichelli is tied for third on the team with 8 goals and ranks fifth in points (18);

* D Travis Roche has 2-5-7 in his last seven games and is tied for first on the team with four power play goals;

* LW Jeremy Stevenson has points in six of his 11 games (3-5-8);

* The Power Play has scored only one goal in the last four games. For the season, it's 27 of 168/16.1%, ranking 18th;

* The Penalty Kill has allowed four goals in the last two games and now is 129 of 154 overall, 83.8%, ranking 16th.

WILD WATCH: Minnesota is second in the Northwest Division with a record of 14-7-6-1, 35 points, trailing division leader Vancouver by one point. Marian Gaborik leads the NHL with 18 goals. The Wild have four games this week. They host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday before traveling to Detroit to take on the Stanley Cup Championships on Wednesday. Friday finds the Wild in Nashville playing the Predators before they wind up the week at home against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

ICEGATOR UPDATE: Louisiana currently has a 10-game unbeaten streak and sits on top of the Southwest Division with a record of 15-5-5, 35 pts. This week, the IceGators play at the Baton Rouge Kingfish on Wednesday, then host the Mississippi SeaWolves on Friday before finishing with a home-and-home series against the Jackson Bandits at Jackson on Saturday and home on Sunday.

UPCOMING GAMES

THURSDAY 12/12 VS BRIDGEPORT

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers come to Houston for their first visit to the Lone Star State. Last season was the team's first and they advanced to the Calder Cup Finals.

FRIDAY 12/13 VS BRIDGEPORT

Houston wraps up the two game set versus the New York Islanders' farm team. Bridgeport currently is the top team in the East Division.

SATURDAY 12/14 AT UTAH

The Aeros travel west to take on division rival the Utah Grizzlies for the fifth time this season. Houston is 3-1 thus far. The game will be televised on KTBU-55.

THURSDAY 12/19 VS NORFOLK

The busy month at home continues as the Norfolk Admirals visit for a two-game set. The teams split an earlier pair in Norfolk on Thanksgiving weekend with Houston losing and recording an OT win.

SATURDAY 12/21 VS NORFOLK

Houston hosts Norfolk for the second and final time this season. The two teams have been at the top of the Western Conference this year.

ON THE AIR: Houston Aeros games can be heard on AM 700 "The Voice" KSEV this season. The games against Bridgeport and Norfolk will be available on AM 700 and via the internet at www.aeros.com. Saturday's game from Utah will be televised on KTBU-55 "The Tube" and will not be a radio broadcast.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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